214 



HITCHCOCK'S ANATOMY 



each of the toes, and supplies the upper part of the foot with 

 blood. The Posterior Tibial Artery follows upon the back 

 side of the leg a corresponding course to the anterior tibial, 

 and supplies the sole of the foot and toes with blood. 



876. Capillaries. — The arteries just described area few 

 only of the principal ones, since at nearly every inch of their 

 course larger or smaller vessels are given off according to the 



Fig. 217. 



Varieties of Capillaries, a, Those around Fat Cells. B, In Muscle, c, In Mucous 

 Membrane, d, Skin of Finger. 



nature of the part to be supplied with blood, and, with a few 

 exceptions, such as the one in the head (circle of Willis), 

 they all terminate in minute vessels called Capillaries. 



377. Diameter of Capillaries — Functions Performed 

 in them. — These are minute tubes ^^th to roVoth of an 

 inch in diameter, and are always the terminations of arteries. 

 They are of a uniform size, and very regular in the distribu- 



876. How do nearly all the arteries terminate ? Where is the only exception ? 377. 

 State the diameter of the Capillaries. What of their uniformity ? 



